The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-12-13
A CRUSOE IN PETTICOATs.


The Thrilling Experience of u South Sea
Missionary's Daughter.
Talking to a reporter of the San Francisco
Call, Miss Hannah Durston the daughter of q
Fiji missionary, said
"It was on q Christmas day that remember
so well my father telling mother that he had
decided to change his residence to the Island
of Kandavu, and their work i'll harmony with
the Wesleyan ministers, who are numerous on
that island. We made the change ere another
month had gone by. 1 did not like Kandavu,
although there is pretty bay and some fine
island scenery We lived in q hut made of
cane, several miles away from whore the
colony was located.
at was very lonesome, and many Of the ma
tives had ugly dispositions. They protested
disgust and contempt openly for missionaries.
Mothers soft and kind words seemed'to have
no effect upon them, and quito frequently
they stole things from lis. Theft, would say
though, is not q common practice among the
Fiiians. One day father reprmanded a sub
chief called Ko-Ko for stealing jack-knife,
and in reply the chief threatened to wreak
vengeance on us. Father had but little fear of
him doing anything, but two days afterward q
friendly native came and told us that Ko Ko
and some of his friends would pay us a visit
that night and probably murder father and
mother and carry me into captivity, for Ko-K o
had an evil and licentious disposition.
q Father became alarmed at this. AS the
beach was near by we resolved to take a few
things and seek safety on the ocean in our
large bark canoe until the next day, when we
could reach the colony overland, as Ko-Io
and his men would surely be on the lookout
From the door of our hut to the sandy beach
was only a few steps. Here was our canoe
which father used in visiting adjacent islands.
In the bow was n capacious locker, where food
and few other necessaries could be kept. To
wards sunset, we fastened to the beach,
placed our things in the locker
and father pushed the canoe into tho
water. 1t would seem that we were none
too soon in getting away, for the canoe was
hardly 100 feet from the beach when tho
treacherous Ko-I<o and six other natives came
bounding to the waters edge, brandishing
their spears at us in threatening fashion.
Ko-Ko, with an inprecation, hurled spear at
u.s. but it fell short and dropped into the water
Father breathed u fervent prayer over our
narrow escape and hoistcd a sail upon the
slender mast. Under the impetus of a gentle
breeze the canoe soon left the shore far behind
"Mother and j wrapped ourselves up III
blankets. at fathers request, and lay down in
the bottom of the canoe to rest while he
watched. 1t was some time before the tapping
of the water against the sides of the canoe
luled me TO sleep. do not know how long
slumbered, but was aroused by sharp cry
from father, and n fearful tossing of the canoe
My mother was already sitting up. The stars
which had studded the sky when | do2ed Off
was obscured by blacktmasses Of clouds, gusts
of wind were shrielSing i'll a dismal way about
us, and the waves were large and high, at
times rolling into the canoe. we knew that
one of tho o terrible storms which spring up
so suddenly in the islands was about to break
upon us.
"'God help u.s. murmured my father rever-
emily, and he offered up prayer for our de-
liverance. / shall never forget what followed.
The black clouds seemed to open and belch out
fire and loose batteries of thunder The
shrieking wind had the velocity of gale, and
the canoe was tossed like chip upon the tops
of angry white waves that CLEANED like the
white fangs of devouring monster The sail
was rent asunder and the rain began to pour
down in torrents.
Suddenly, above the roar of the thunder,
we could distinguish continuous rumbling
sound.
"'Those are the breakers, and we will soon
be among them, whispered my father, adding
words of comfort Mt the same time.
"The next thing remember was q deafent
ing crash and sharp cry from mother. ! wa
struck by something and consciousness lefs
me. l can recollect opening my eyes as IL
from profound sleep. The sun was smiling
down from blue and cloudess sky. l raised
myself and found the ocean at my feet. Tt
was as placid as a lake. 1 was lying on the
wet beach not three feet from where the waves